The Complete Mobile App Strategy Guide

It can be pretty hard to start from scratch if you are a company trying to design a strategy around mobile apps. There are a lot of different aspects to consider, from the technical side of things to marketing and distribution.

This guide will give you an overview of all the different elements that go into a successful mobile app strategy, so you can make sure your company is on the right track.

Define Your Goals

The first step in any strategy is to define your goals. What do you want to achieve with your mobile app? Are you trying to increase sales, reach new customers, or improve customer loyalty?

Your goals will shape the rest of your strategy, so it's important to take the time to think about them carefully.

Define Your Target Audience

Once you know what your goals are, you need to define your target audience. Who are you making this app for? What needs will they have? What motivates them?

Answering these questions will help you understand what kind of app you need to build and how to market it effectively. Similar to your app's goals, you need to have a clear understanding of your target audience before you even start designing. If you miss the mark on your target audience then all of your effort in building a mobile app will be wasted.

Map The Customer Journey

The customer journey is the path that your customers take from awareness to purchase. In order to create a successful mobile app strategy, you need to map out this journey and understand how your app fits into it.

What problem does your app solve? How does it fit into your customer's day-to-day life? What are the potential roadblocks that could keep them from using your app?

Answering these questions will help you create an app that meets your customer's needs and makes their journey as smooth as possible.

Build a Great App

Once you know who you're building your app for and what its needs are, it's time to start actually building it. This is where the technical aspects of your strategy come into play.

You need to make sure you're building an app that is well-designed, user-friendly, and stable. There are several different ways that you can build an app, and each has its pros and cons for your specific use case. Further down the page, we will discuss this topic more in-depth but in the meantime just know that there are options regardless of budget or technical skill level.

There are several other considerations to be made during this stage, like which platform to build for and what features to include.

The most important thing to keep in mind during this stage is your target audience. You need to make sure that the app you are building is something that they will want to use. If you're not sure, don't be afraid to ask them directly. The last thing you want is to build an app that no one ends

Getting Your App Out There

Once your app is built, it's time to start marketing it. This is where a lot of companies fail because they don't have a plan for how to get their app in front of the right people.

The first step is to create a landing page that clearly articulates what your app does and why someone should download it.

You also need to think about how you're going to generate organic traffic and awareness for your app. This can be done through PR, content marketing, social media, and other digital marketing channels.

Don't forget that you can also use traditional marketing channels to promote your app. This could include things like print ads, billboards, or even TV commercials.

The key is to experiment and find what works best for you. There is no magic formula for success, so you need to be willing to try different things and track your results.

Converting Users Into Customers

Once you've gotten people to download your app, you need to focus on converting them into paying customers. This is where things like in-app purchases, subscriptions, and other monetization strategies come into play.

The most important thing to keep in mind here is that you need to offer value to your users. If they don't see the value in what you're offering, they won't be willing to pay for it.

Think about what your users need and how you can provide it to them in a way that is worth their money. Also, don't forget that you can offer different pricing tiers to appeal to different segments of your audience.

For example, you could offer a basic version of your app for free and then upsell users to a premium version with additional features.

The key is to find the right balance between providing value and generating revenue. If you can do this, you'll be well on your way to creating a successful mobile app strategy.

Test and Optimize

Finally, once your app is out there and you're generating paying customers, it's time to start thinking about how you can further optimize your strategy. This includes things like A/B testing different features or redesigning your landing page. It's also important to track your key metrics so that you can identify areas of improvement.

The goal is to continuously improve your app and your strategy so that you can keep growing your business. If you can do this, you'll be well on your way to creating a successful mobile app strategy.

What are the best ways to build an app?

Remember how we talked about how there were many ways that you can build an app? In this section, we are going to go over a few of the most popular methods so that you can decide which one is right for you.

Native App Development

Native app development is where you build an app specifically for one platform, like iOS or Android. The advantage of this approach is that you can create a high-quality user experience because you have complete control over the design and functionality of the app.

The downside is that it can be more expensive and time-consuming than other methods, and you'll need to create a separate version for each platform you want to support.

If you're looking to create a high-quality app with a great user experience, native app development is a good option for you.

Cross-Platform App Development

Cross-platform app development is where you build an app that can be used on multiple platforms, like iOS, Android, and web. The advantage of this approach is that it's less expensive and time-consuming than native app development because you only need to create one version of the app.

The downside is that you might need to sacrifice some features and functionality in order to make it work on multiple platforms.

If you're looking for a more cost-effective option, cross-platform app development is a good choice for you.

Web App Development

Web app development is where you build an app that can be accessed through a web browser. The advantage of this approach is that it's less expensive and time-consuming than other methods because you only need to create one version of the app. Even better is that users can download the app straight from the website so there is no need to haggle back and forth with the App Store for their approval. Many different brands have been building web apps to either switch over from a native app or on top of a native app to increase reach, speed, and functionality. The most notable example of a web app would be Twitter's "PWA" or Progressive Web App.

The downside is that you might need to sacrifice some features and functionality in order to make it work on multiple platforms.

If you're looking for an option that provides an incredible experience at a fraction of the cost, web app development would be a great choice for you.

With any of these options, there are many different tools available for you to build an app. The first and most common up until this point in history was with a developer. A developer is a programmer who writes code to create software programs. The advantage of using a developer is that they can create anything you want from scratch.

The downside is that it can be expensive and time-consuming, especially if you're not familiar with the development process.

If you're looking for complete control over your app and are willing to invest the time and money, working with a developer is a good option for you.

There is also something called a digital experience platform (DXP), which is a tool that allows you to create an app without any coding. The advantage of using a digital experience platform is that it's less expensive and time-consuming than working with a developer because you don't need to hire anyone or learn how to code.

The downside with most DXPs is that you might not have as much control over the design and functionality of the app. This problem doesn't seem to be as prevalent with some DXPs. An example of a DXP that allows users to have complete control over the front-end of data is Lumavate.

Lumavate allows you to use no-code and low-code tools to quickly design and prototype mobile apps without any coding required. You can even develop hundreds of personalized experiences for every different buying persona in a matter of days.

The bottom line is that there are many different ways to develop an app, and the method you choose should be based on your needs and budget. If you're looking for complete control over the design and functionality of your app, working with a developer is the best option for you. If you're looking for an option that's less expensive and time-consuming, consider using a digital experience platform like Lumavate.

No matter what route you choose, building an app can be a great way to improve your business and reach new customers. Good luck!